Valve lifter



Nov. 22, 1955 L, A, PEARMAN 2,724,374

VALVE LIFTER Filed May 20, 1954 A TTORNE x United htates Patent Office 2,724,374 Patented Nov. 22, 1955 VALVE LIFTER Leo A. Pearman, Rivera, Calif.

Application May 20, 1954, Serial No. 431,161

2 Claims. (Cl. 123-90) This invention relates to an improved valve lifter, and has for one of its principal objects the provision of a device of the class described which can be used in an internal combustion engine in lieu of the ordinary cam operated or the more modern hydraulic valve lifter, and which will result in improved operation over either.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a valve lifter for internal combustion engines which will not be subject to the difiiculties and disadvantages encountered in. hydraulic valve lifters, but which will at the same time posses all the advantages of reliable, efiicient and quiet operation and with little, if any, possibility of getting out of order.

A further object is' to provide in a valve lifting device, an element composed of a minimum number of parts, and which parts are susceptible to ready change or replacement in the event of such becoming necessary, and which furthermore is so constructed that it may be economically manufactured and readily installed.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view practically entirely in vertical section, of the valve lifter of my invention showing the same as incorporated into the structure of a representative type of internal combustion engine.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating the device in a different position or phase of operation.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numerals indicate generally a portion of an internal combustion engine having a valve 12. This may be either an intake or an exhaust valve, and is provided with the usual stem 14, helical operating spring 16 and fittings 18.

The usual cam shaft 20 provided with a cam 22 is employed in conjunction with the valve, as is usual in this apparatus.

Instead of operating the valve 12-14 directly by means of the cam 22 or indirectly through a hydraulic lifting element, the device of this invention is employed.

This comprises a main casing 24 preferably cylindrical in shape and having two sections. The upper section 26 is of a greater diameter than the lower section 28 and forms a sleeve adapted to slidably receive a valve stem holding element 30, preferably shaped as shown for the reception of the corresponding portion of the valve stem. This element also has a semi-spherical recess in its lower face and centrally disposed thereof for the reception of a ball bearing or the like 32. This ball bearing is supported in operativeposition by means of a spring 34 positioned in the lower and central recess 28 A weep-hole 36 is provided in the bottom of the upper opening in the valve stem receiving element 30 and another weep-hole 38 is diametrically positioned in the lower end of the element 24. These weep-holes allow of drainage of excess lubricating grease or oil, thereby assuring of eflicient operation at all times.

The compressive strength of the spring 34 in the recess 28 of the element 24 is slightly greater than the compressive strength of the valve operating spring 16. The overall length of the spring 34 is so calibrated and its compressive strength is such that it will not overpower the valve spring 16, and there will never be any danger of the valve being held open. When the cam 22 assumes its valve raising position as shown in Figure 2, the valve lifter of this invention will move the valve 12 into the position shown in this figure, and the valve can be so adjusted that it will always be fully opened due to the cam action, while at the same time there will be no possibility of lost motion and consequent slap, which is undesirable and often results from improper adjustment. In this case, the adjustment is automatically taken care of by the action of the spring 34 and the ball bearing 32 operating against the bottom of the element 34). This assures of a very quiet operation which however is fully efiicient and is practically self adjusting. The element 24 will also obviously be always maintained in actual full operating contact with the cam 22.

It will be evident that herein is provided a novel and useful type of valve lifter which is much more efficient than the ordinary cam action and which supersedes even the best hydraulic valve lifting device so far as efficiency and positive continuous operation is concerned. It can easily be installed in practically any motor, even those of diiferent sizes, with little or no change, and eliminates quite a bit of the fittings ordinarily necessary so far as a hydraulic valve lifting system is concemed. The only possibility of breakage is that of the spring 34, and even if this does happen, the device will continue to operate although it may be a bit noisy. This noise however will immediately warn of the condition, and the same can be readily remedied with a minimum of expenditure of time and eifort.

I am aware that many changes may be made and nu merous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent grantedhereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A valve lifter for internal combustion engines and the like, comprising a casing having an upper and a lower recess therein, a valve stem holding element slidable in the upper recess, a helical spring mounted in the: lower recess, said spring acting against the valve stem holding element, a thrust element comprising a ball bearing mounted between the spring and the valve stem retainer, the spring in the lower recess of the valve lifter being of a higher compressive strength than the valve operat' ing spring.

2. A valve lifter as described in claim 1, wherein the overall extended dimension of the recessed spring is such that it will not overpower the valve spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rich May 11, 1920 Lampman Nov. 28, 1933 

